Immorality
Immorality
Immorality
IMMORALITY
It involves going against rules and regulations that have been set by society to
The Book of Galatians 5: 19 and Colossians 3:5 to 8 speak against immoral acts.
IMMORAL BEHAVIOUR
Immoral behaviour refers to acts or behaviours which do not conform to the norms of
2. Practising homosexuality. That is, being a gay or a lesbian. A gay person is a man
who engages in sexual act with another man. A lesbian is also a woman who
5. Masturbating. This involves stimulating your sexual organ in order to get pleasure
or ejaculation.
6.
Raping or defiling girls. Raping means having forced sexual intercourse with a
lady or a man without his or her consent. Defilement is the act of having sexual
8. Practising prostitution.
9. Drug abuse
CAUSES OF IMMORALITY
1. Being greedy:
2. Economic hardships:
Those that engage in prostitution or sex trade site severe economic hardship in
The world today is becoming more materialistic. People are interested in cars
houses, expensive dresses, and the pleasures of life. The quest for material things
The high incidence of substance abuse such as alcohol, hard drugs and banne
materials like magazines, books, videos and the Internet. Students easily get
access to sexually related materials which corrupt their mind and out of curiosity
Some parents fail to provide proper care or to demonstrate good moral habits for
1. Poverty:
Poverty may cause the youth to engage in some immoral acts like drug trafficking
Peers may persuade their friends to undertake immoral acts like drug abuse
Most youth today lack self-discipline because they are weak in the mind.
11. Broken homes
A child from a broken home joins bad group since he or she is not under any
parental supervision
EFFECTS OF IMMORALITY
Teenagers who engage in immoral acts such as pre-marital sex may get pregnant.
A teenage mother faces many challenges like poor nutrition, high blood pressure,
Teenage boys and girls who engage in pre-marital acts may become teenage
parents. A teenage father or mother may face the following risks: dropping out of
school; lacking skills in any career; poverty; smoking and drinking etc.
They may weigh less than 2.5Kg. Such children may have physical and mental
deformities. The bad habits of the teenage parents such as smoking, substance
Teenage pregnancy due to pre-marital sex can increase school dropout rate. This
It leads to poverty:
An immoral person may lose his self esteem, dignity and respect from friends and
infections like syphilis and HIV/AIDS. If any of the STIs are not treated it can lead
to infertility in the future. HIV/AIDS will eventually lead to pre-mature death of the
affected person.
9. Unemployment:
t getting
Those who engage in immoral acts can lose their jobs or will find it difficult
employed
Immoral acts like drug abuse can pose health problems like liver disorders, mental
MORALITY
>
Morality describes the principles that govern our behaviour. Without these
>
Morality impacts our everyday decisions, and those choices are directed by our
conscience
1. By being truthful
3. By being tolerant
4. By being patient
5. By being law-abiding
7. By being honest
8. By being faithful
IMPORTANCE OF MORALITY
Morality produces good ethics and virtues such as kindness, faithfulness, love,
principles expected from every individual. These virtues are ideal for peaceful co-
existence in society.
1.
2.
3.
Morality helps the individual to use his or her sense of judgment. Sound moral
Good and sound moral ethics are as suitable as a training ground for individuals.
It is the civic responsibility of every good citizen to aspire to develop good morals.
leadership positions.
4.
5.
> Sexually Transmitted Diseases are diseases that can be transferred from one
HIV/AIDS.
> Sexual activity includes kissing, oral sex, anal sex, vaginal sex, and the use
> There are at least 25 different sexually transmitted diseases with a range of
different symptoms. These diseases may be spread through vaginal, anal and
oral sex.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 128 million cases of
new STD's are recorded each year worldwide. This figure makes the incidence
> STD's are universal in nature. This means that they can affect anybody who
Risk behaviour is an action by a person that threatens his/her health status, can
Examples of Risk Behaviour that can cause one to be infected with STDs
4. Engaging in group sexual activities such as masturbation in which you may infect
5. Having sexual activities with multiple sex partners or a person with multiple sex
partners.
7. Having deep open mouth kissing with a person whose mouth contains sores,
8. Having contact with contaminated objects that have been used by a carrier of an
STD.
9. Sharing sharp or pointed objects with other people for injecting drugs, shaving,
10. Using untreated needles or pins for tattoos, piercing ears, nose and other parts of the body.
12. Having contact with the blood, semen, fluids, mucus and vaginal secretion of a
13. Having blood transfusion with blood or its related product which was not properly
screened.
14. Having tissue transplant such as bone marrow, skin grafting, kidney, heart etc.
15. Having contact with blisters, sores and ulcers of persons with STD's.
17. Coming in contact with objects used by an infected person such as mattress,
through time and some have become resistant to existing drugs for treating STD's.
2. Continuous use of birth control pills/methods: Most adolescents and the
youth now practise sexual activities without fear of being pregnant because they
use pills and foaming tablets. So, they protect themselves against unplanned
3. Early Sexual Activities: Sex is now a household word for many youth. Some
have multiple partners and engage in risky behaviours. Some start sexual
activities at tender ages and have many sexual partners. This exposes them to
1. Candidiasis (Thrush).
2. Gonorrhoea.
3. Syphilis
4. HIV/AIDS,
5. Genital herpes.
6. Hepatitis B.
7. Genital warts.
8. Genital Chlamydia.
9. Pubic lies.
1. CANDIDIASIS (Thrush)
Albicans.
➤ This is because Candida is found on the skin and genitals of most people,
>
Candida is usually suppressed by the immune system and the natural bacteria
found in the body, but there are many things that can upset the balance and
Causes of Candidiasis
There are many causes of Candidiasis, but the most common ones are as follows:
1. Women wearing nylon panties (the lack of air circulation can cause Candida
vagina or penis.
6. Sexual contact (either genital or oral) with someone who carries the Candida
yeast.
> The fungus can also develop and hide at the foreskin of a penis and then be
Symptoms of Candidiasis
Effects of Candidiasis
It affects the mouth, oesophagus, skin and other organs in the body.
2. GONORRHOEA
>
The disease affects about 62 million people each year. It affects more women
>
The bacterium takes between 2 and 7 days or longer to develop in its new
host or victim. It mostly infects the epithelial surface of the urinary tract, cervix,
> Oral sex can also pass on the germ, and some people actually develop a sore
Mothers infected with gonorrhoea can transfer the disease to their children
1. Discharge from the eyes of a new born baby a day or two after birth is an
3. In males or men, the symptoms include burning urination, thick yellow or green
4. Regular discharge from the anus especially among those who practise anal
sex
5. In both sexes, a throat infection can occur as a result of oral sex with an infected
Effects of Gonorrhoea
(infertility).
It can affect the eyes of an unborn child leading to blindness if not trealed
Treatment of Gonorrhoea:
manifest.
> There are antibiotics for treating the disease effectively at health centres one.
Prevention of Gonorrhoea
3. One should not have sex under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
3.SYPHILIS
Treponema pallidum.
> It takes between 10 and 90 days (3 months) to develop in the infected person
> The bacterium penetrates layers under the skin of infected persons and
syphilis sore.
> Sores occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum.
> Sores can also occur on the lips and in the mouth.
> Transmission of the bacterium occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
> Pregnant women with the disease can pass it to the babies they are carrying
> Syphilis cannot be spread through contact with toilet seats, doorknobs
> The bacterium is transmitted through direct contact with sores of an affecled
The bacterium develops through four stages and each stage has its symptoms
1. Primary Stage:
bacterium.
The primary stage affects the lips, tongue, genitals (penis, cervix, voe
The anected part of the body develops chancres or painless ulcers (Sofe-like
TeaturesS) The chancres or sores are hard. round and painless with tased
secondary stage.
2. Secondary Stage:
Afected parts develop rashes and sores, which easily spread to the entire
body.
Flat warts-looking growths occur on the vulva in women and around the anUs
in men.
3. Latent Stage:
When syphilis is not treated at the secondary stage, it progresses to the latent
stage. At this stage, the bacterium remains dormant in the infected person,
Signs and symptoms of the latent stage include difficulty coordinating muscle
4. Tertiary Stage:
Untreated syphilis at the latent stage develops to the final (tertiary) stage.
Signs and symptoms of the final stage include difficulty coordinating muscle
Effects of Syphilis
1 It destroys permanently the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord. and
nerves)
Treatment of Syphlis
2. Persons who receive syphilis treatment must abstain from sexual contact with
1 One should abstain from sexual activities or be with a partner who has been
2. One should avoid alcohol and drug use because these activities are risky
behaviours that may lead to the transmission of syphilis.
3. One should use condom during sexual intercourse to reduce the rate of
infection.
4. Regular checkups for STDs may reduce the development of the bacterium
4. HIV/AIDS
> HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired
> AIDS is the disease that results when the virus destroys completely the
Currently, there are over 42 million people worldwide living with the HIV
>
infection.
AIDS is the most serious and deadliest disease in the history of humanity.
1. HIV infection is spread by having sex with an infected partner. The virus can
enter the body through the lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum, or mouth
during sex.
2.
3. Women can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy or birth, when
4.
HIV can be transmitted in health care centres through accidental needle sticks
6. People with sexually transmitted infection like syphilis and gonorrhoea are
more likely to acquire HIV infection during sex with an infected partner
NOTE:
mouth.
3. Coughing or sneezing.
5. Sharing toilet facilities, books, and swimming pools and bathing facilities.
A person is said to be HIV positive when his/her blood sample is tested and found
to contain HIV. A person who is HIV negative does not have the virus that causes
3. Frequent fever that last for several weeks and sore throat.
9. Skin rashes.
11. Severe vaginal yeast infection in women which does not respond to treatment.
Effects of HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS weakens the immune system and therefore exposes one to secondary
Treatment of HIV/AIDS
> However, there are antiretroviral drugs to boost the immune system. The
Prevention of HIV/AIDS
The only way to prevent infection by the virus is to avoid behaviours that put
condom. Because condoms can break, they are not perfect protection.
> Many people infected with HIV do not show symptoms. Therefore, there is no
way for one to know with certainty whether his/her sexual partner is infected.
2. Those who want to engage in sexual activity should do so with a single partner
who is tested not to be infected with the virus. Mutual monogamy between
3. Those who are sexually active should engage in protected sex by using a
Occasionally, they may break or leak. Only condoms made of latex should be
used.
fluids.
life.
Safety precautions for health care providers and people who cater for HIV
Patients
1. Wear protective latex gloves when handling blood, fluids and tissues of the
HIV patients.
2.
3. Wash hands with soap and adequate water after you have removed your
gloves.
6. Cover any cut, blisters, scraps and rash before attending to HIV/AIDS patients.
9. Wash off immediately after handling contaminated blood, fluids and blood
products.
10. Dispose of used sharp objects like blades, syringes, and needles properly and
immediately.
3. To keep the body free of the dangerous symptoms and damaging effects of
STDs
5 To avoid harming the reproductive organs for now and the future.
8. To enjoy stress free, satisfactory and healthy sexual relation with future partner
TEENAGE PREGNANCY
1. Peer influence: Most affected teenagers take wrong advice from their peers or
people they play with. Such individuals may not have information about sexuality.
As a result, they are easily influenced by their peers to engage in pre-marital sex
2. Broken homes: A broken home occurs when there is a break in marriage. Both
parents end up staying at different places. The children especially the girls are left
on their own to look after themselves. Such girls are easily influenced by men to
motherhood.
3. Irresponsible adult behaviour: Some adult men are so irresponsible that they
influence teenage girls with gifts, money and presents to lure them into sex. Most
of these irresponsible adults even rape or defile their victims and this leads to
teenage pregnancies.
4. Ignorance on sex: The lack of sex education makes many teenagers vulnerable
to pre-marital sex that can lead to pregnancy. Parents and the educational system
do not provide sufficient sex education that makes the child well informed to withstand all forms of
pressure from their peers and irresponsible adults. This high
the country.
access to pictures and information on sex on the Internet and other sources. This
corrupts their mind to the extent that they readily give in to sex without protecting
themselves.
6. Poverty: The high level of poverty in the country especially in the rural areas
pushes many teenagers into the cities to engage in some form of sex trade. They
easily exchange sex for food and other favours. In effect, some of them sleep with
1. High school dropout rate: Many teenage pregnant girls easily drop out of school.
They are not able to continue their education because of the stigma attached to
their pregnancies.
pregnancy and delivery. The immature nature of their reproductive system makes
it impossible for them to have normal deliveries. Some even lose their lives during
Since they do not have any skill or education, they 'sell' their bodies in order to
make money to feed themselves and their children. Child prostitution is common
4. A lot of children are abandoned: Some teenage mothers leave their children on
the street because they cannot look after them. This has contributed to the growing
5. Social misfit: Most of the children born to teenagers do not get the best of life.
They lack education, skills and training. Many of them end up as social misfits.
means:
1. Sex education: Parents, schools, churches and mosques and other stake
holders must intensify sex education among their teens and youth. This will
provide them with the needed information to resist attempt by their peers to
upbringing. A well informed parent will help their children to meet their basic
needs.
control access to pornographic materials by the youth. This will help sustain their
high sense of morality. Internet Service Providers must ensure that teenagers do
not access pornographic websites. The police and other security agencies must
monitor and arrest firms and individuals who supply pornographic materials into
the country. Such people must be arrested and punished severely to serve as a
deterrent to others.
attempts by their peers to engage in pre-marital sex. These skills will allow them
to stand against all negative influences. They should be bold to say "No" to their
peers and irresponsible men who will want to have sex with them.
5. Stiffer punishments: The courts must give stiffer punishments to those who rape
teenagers when they are caught. They should be made to bear full responsibility
of their action by looking after their children and the teenage mothers.
2. (a)
(b)
What is morality?
BECE 2003
BECE 2008